Equity in Strategic Planning for Material Management Grants

The State of Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) for consulting services focused on integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into its Materials Management Grant Program, with a specific focus on Multnomah County and the City of Portland. The procurement seeks consultants to assist with a comprehensive review of the existing grant program and develop a strategic plan centered on DEI principles. Key deliverables include developing a strategic plan review process, defining DEI goals and objectives for the grant program, advising on application questions and evaluation criteria, providing DEI training for grant reviewers and recipients, and periodically reviewing and evaluating the DEI approach. Proposers must demonstrate at least three years of experience in DEI consulting for grant program development. The evaluation criteria will prioritize the overall project plan, the proposer's previous experience, and pricing. The initial RFP was not awarded, and this RFI seeks feedback to improve the solicitation. The original response deadline was December 7, 2021, with responses to be submitted to BIDSDEQ@deq.state.or.us by 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

The RFI documents do not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. There is no mention of disadvantaged enterprise requirements or specific vendor diversity mandates. The procurement does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors for the proposed services. Similarly, no specific infrastructure or technology integration requirements are detailed in the available documents. While the RFP indicates an intent to award a contract to the highest-ranking proposer, no specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the provided materials. The preferred timeline for the project spans from October 2021 through November 2023, suggesting a multi-year engagement, but precise financial parameters are not specified. The RFI is primarily an information-gathering exercise to refine the approach to integrating DEI principles into the Materials Management Grant Program, with responses intended to help DEQ determine its future procurement strategy.